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Worryingly, addiction to prescription painkillers has become a national crisis in recent times because it can become incredibly easy for anyone to get addicted to them. They are highly effective in helping people with short-term pain management, but when patients misuse the drug, it can very quickly result in addiction which can ruin lives in multiple ways and even be fatal. If you or somebody that you care about is struggling with prescription painkiller addiction, then it can be hard to know what to do as completely cutting out the medication straight away is dangerous. Read on for advice on overcoming a prescription painkiller addiction.

Signs To Look Out For

You can tell if you or somebody that you know is addicted to painkillers if they are using the painkiller longer than it was prescribed or they are using higher dosages to get the same effect (tolerance increases with addiction). They may also move onto illegal drugs or attempt to get new prescriptions, and there may also be extreme changes in mental health and social behavior.

Getting Help

The first step to recovery is admitting that there is a problem and speaking to a health professional. If it is somebody that you know that is addicted it can be a delicate subject to approach but, ultimately, it is important that you take action. If they do not listen, you may want to consider an intervention as these can be highly effective at helping people to realize the extent of their addictions and the damage that it is doing.

Treatment

You should never attempt to treat prescription painkiller addiction without the help of a healthcare professional, so it is likely that you will be referred to a treatment facility. The detox process is a key stage as it can be dangerous to go “cold turkey” – Oxycodone withdrawal symptoms can be severe and trigger responses which could be damaging to your health. A medically monitored program can wean your body off of the drug safely, and the focus can then shift to using therapy to treat your addiction and provide coping strategies for staying off of the drug.

Support and Aftercare

Having a good support network is vital when attempting to come off of the drug and also once you have finished treatment. This will be those that are close to you who can provide emotional support, guidance and motivation to stay clean. You may also find it helpful to attend support groups where you can talk through your issues with those that have been through similar experiences. In many cases, a treatment facility will provide an aftercare system which will help you to stay on top of your addiction once treatment has ended.

It can be incredibly easy to get addicted to prescription painkillers and, sadly, it is an epidemic in this country at the moment. While this is a problem that needs addressing, it is possible to help those that are addicted but it is important that you seek professional help in order to do this as it can be dangerous to treat a prescription painkiller addiction without medical care.